Hard/Soft cover books

[beth313]

Hi all,

I am new here. I am looking for hard or soft cover digital photo books to do myself. All I can find are websites where they want you to load the pictures and they make the book for you. I want to make it myself! So any idea where these companies get these books?

Thanks,
Beth

[montmeag]

Welcome Beth. I came across this (http://www.myphotobookcreator.com/) company through the digital scrapbooking magazine. It's the only one I know of that you make your own.

[beth313]

Thank you Meagan. That site looks very helpful. I greatly appreciate it.
Beth

[Alishaw]

Beth, I use Shutterfly and MyPublisher. I just choose the full page photo option and load my scrapbooked page instead so it looks all cutsie. You'll have to show us your pages for your book!! Welcome!

[beth313]

To be honest, I am starting a home based business involving photo restoration and video editing. However, along the lines of my photo portion, I would like to offer the photobooks. I just can NOT find the correct books I am looking for. And of course there are so many companies out there that offer this service and they surely aren't going to tell me where to purchase the books. I checked out Megan's suggestion and thought that was "the one", but they all appear to be spiral binding. I want the real hardback books. I am purely out of luck I think. I don't understand how these other companies can do it. Their suppliers?

B

[kmsarles]

Beth,
Book binding is it's own art form. You probably aren't going to find many kits to buy and put together. I would suggest you check Dick Blick (http://www.dickblick.com) in the Bookbinding (http://www.dickblick.com/categories/bookmaking/) section. Real bookbinding starts with bookboard, book linen, and the spine mesh and glue. If you are wanting to start a really serious all-out business you should check with Lucidiom (http://www.lucidiom.com/). It is a company that makes scrapbooking kiosks and they also have a scrapbooking bookbinding system. We have ordered one for our store, but it hasn't arrived yet.

Anyone who's ever been interested in bookbinding should try it. It's harder when you do gummed signatures, but hand sewn books are beautiful! (I make a lot of books... just in case that wasn't obvious yet...)

Kelly

[chryslergreen]

Kelly - you are so multi-talented! I'm impressed!

[Alyson]

What is a gummed signature?

[digimad]

I recently participated in a survey ( I think it was Robert's crafts) where they showed a product under development for making your own books at home. It looked pretty cool, but I think they were testing the waters for how much of a market they would have for it. So there might be something available in the near future.

[montmeag]

Ok, that must not be the right one because the one I saw was a hard bound book that you slide in a machine thing. I must have remembered the name wrong. I'll look some more.

[montmeag]

No, I remembered it right. They are hard bound. You basically print whatever you want in the book. Then you put the pages in one of the hard covers and slide it in their machine. The machine heats up the glue on the cover and binds the paper to the cover. There are some drawbacks that I can see. You can only use their covers (I was unable to find prices on any of this.) so you won't be able to customize the cover like with an online company. The covers do come with a cutout in the front so you can put a fun picture there. Also, the biggest size you can get is 9mm which can hold up to 55 pages. That's only on the 11x8.5 and 12x12. The smaller sizes can only hold 25 pages. That what info I could find, but at least it's hardbound and not spiral.

[beth313]

Hi Meagan,

Yes, you were correct. I don't know what page I jumped on but it showed only spiral binding. But I went to the other links and found a "system" that binds it for you just as you said. I tried to look up reviews on that particular product but couldn't find any. It looks to be the only "at home" binding system for hardbacks. Thank you so much for your help. Otherwise, I would still be looking!
Beth

[Shellie]

Beth, I use Shutterfly and MyPublisher. I just choose the full page photo option and load my scrapbooked page instead so it looks all cutsie. You'll have to show us your pages for your book!! Welcome!

I didn't know you could do that. Cool! Thanks, Alisha!

[kmsarles]

What is a gummed signature?

Well, it's when you spell out your name with gum of course!!!

LOL! Signatures are the sections of folded pages that make up a book. If you look at a traditionally bound book you will see a bunch of small sections of folded pages inside the spine. Each section is called a signature. They are sewn together and then glued to a mesh strip that goes on the outside. Then that whole thing is glued into the hard back. Does that make sense? There are a bunch of different ways to bind books. I love looking at the handmade books on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com). Not helpful for this thread... but fun to look at! :)

BTW, I can't take any credit for knowing all that. I work with an AMAZING staff and it was one of my employees who got me HOOKED on bookbinding. I've actually made my own post bound scrapbooks.

[RobRob]

WOW Kelly! Who knew your were such a versatile woman! And you crack me up!!

[Brenda]

How long does it usually take to make your own bound books. I made one once about 7 years ago and I could never find where to buy supplies though. It was a lot of fun, so it would be fun to know where to get the supplies too. Are these websites great for just the casual scrapbooker that wants to make books?

[beth313]

That's what I am looking for...supplies and/or suppliers. But I think Megan directed me to the correct site. Does anyone know about "Unibound" or something close to that name? Ever heard of it, used it, etc...? what kind of results did you get with that system?
B

[kmsarles]

Since I'm overseas I shop at a local German art store that sells the supplies. I highly recommend Dick Blick. They have everything you need. The bookboard is basically the same as chipboard. The thicker board is what you need for hardback books. Make sure you get acid free materials. And I would recommend getting a book on bookbinding or finding someone who teaches classes. Beth, if you are starting a business, I would HIGHLY recommend you try to go to the CHA show or the Scrapbooking Trade Show. The CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) trade show is in Annaheim, CA in February. They have a whole section for companies that sell the computer equipment, etc. I know Lucidiom makes the book binding equipment. I think others might too. And you can stop by the DSM booth and say hi to April!!! :) Good luck!